Switching off Southport’s street lights overnight

TURNING off Southport’s street lights overnight is one of a series of options being put forward by Sefton Council – as part of cost-cutting proposals to reduce its electricity spending.

The council has launched a public consultation over the future of street lighting in a bid to combat rising energy prices and reduce the amount of electricity consumed by street lights. Options on the table include:

Replacing current lighting with more energy efficient units. This would result in a white, rather than amber, light produced.

Replacing current lighting with LED units. This would also see a change to white lighting. LED lights are more expensive to install but can last up to 20 years.

Switching off street lights between 12 midnight and 6am.

The council says considerations for this option would include an area's road accident record, its history of anti-social behaviour and the volume of pedestrians, and it may not be appropriate for all areas. The council has already begun trialling energy saving lights in around 9,000 lights in the borough, including Oakwood Drive in Ainsdale and Sunny Road in Churchtown. It is also trialling LED lights, funded through the Local Transport Plan, in a number of streets including Rawlinson Road.

Alan Lunt, Sefton Council's director of built environment, said: “Sefton currently has around 31,500 street lights, 1,100 illuminated bollards and almost 2,000 illuminated traffic signs.

“Typically these lights account for around 30% of the council's current electricity bill and about 23% of our carbon emissions. It is very important that we look at reducing this consumption wherever possible and equally crucial that we understand residents’ views before we take any options forward. For this reason we are very keen that people take some time out to complete the short questionnaire in the coming weeks.”

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